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منى
মিনা is a valley located approximately 5 kilometers east of the মসজিদুল হারাম in মক্কা মুকাররমা. Known as the 'Tent City,' it houses over 100,000 air-conditioned tents that accommodate around 3 million হাজীগণ during হজ্জ. Pilgrims stay in মিনা on the 8th, 11th, 12th, and optionally 13th of Dhul Hijjah, performing the stoning of the জামারাত and offering their sacrificial animals.
মিনা is a narrow valley situated between the mountains approximately 5 kilometers east of মসজিদুল হারাম in মক্কা মুকাররমা, along the road toward আরাফাত. Its name is said to derive from the Arabic word 'muna' meaning 'wishes' or 'desires,' as it is a place where the হাজী's wishes and aspirations for divine acceptance are fulfilled. Other scholars connect the name to the flowing of blood (from the root 'mana'), referencing the sacrificial animals slaughtered there since the time of Ibrahim (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম). মিনা holds profound significance in Islamic tradition as the location of one of the greatest tests of faith in human history. It was here that নবী করীম Ibrahim (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) was commanded by Allah in a dream to sacrifice his son Ismail (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম). As Ibrahim walked with his son through the valley of মিনা to carry out the divine command, Shaytan (Satan) appeared three times at different points along the path, attempting to dissuade him from obedience to Allah. Each time, Ibrahim drove Shaytan away by casting stones at him. This act of defiance became the basis for the stoning ritual (rami al-jamarat) that হাজীগণ perform during হজ্জ. When Ibrahim demonstrated his complete submission to Allah's command and laid his son down to sacrifice him, Allah revealed: 'You have fulfilled the vision. Indeed, We thus reward those who do good. Indeed, this was the clear trial. And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice' (কুরআন 37:105-107). A ram was sent from Paradise as a substitute, establishing the tradition of sacrifice (udhiyah/qurbani) performed by Muslims worldwide on Eid al-Adha. The three জামারাত (singular: Jamrah) mark the locations where Ibrahim stoned Shaytan. They are Jamrat al-Aqabah (the largest, closest to মক্কা মুকাররমা), Jamrat al-Wusta (the middle), and Jamrat al-Sughra (the smallest, closest to Masjid al-Khayf). Originally simple stone pillars in the open desert, the জামারাত have undergone dramatic modern development. The Saudi government constructed the multi-level জামারাত Bridge in 2006, a massive five-story structure designed to allow hundreds of thousands of হাজীগণ to perform the stoning ritual simultaneously across different levels, drastically reducing the fatal stampedes that plagued earlier years. Masjid al-Khayf, located at the foot of the southern mountain in মিনা, is a significant মসজিদ where নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) prayed during his Farewell হজ্জ. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'Seventy prophets prayed in Masjid al-Khayf' (reported by al-Tabarani and al-Bazzar, graded hasan by al-Albani). This highlights মিনা's importance as a site of worship for prophets throughout history. The modern tent city of মিনা is one of the most remarkable feats of temporary urban infrastructure in the world. Over 100,000 fire-resistant, air-conditioned tents cover the valley floor, organized by country and হজ্জ group. Despite being occupied for only five days each year, the infrastructure includes roads, tunnels, pedestrian walkways, hospitals, fire stations, and utilities to support approximately 3 million হাজীগণ simultaneously. The Saudi government continually invests in expanding and improving মিনা's capacity and safety systems.
মিনা embodies the ultimate lesson of হজ্জ: complete submission to Allah. The entire valley serves as a living memorial to নবী করীম Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice what was most precious to him in obedience to his Lord. Every pebble cast at the জামারাত is a symbolic reenactment of Ibrahim's rejection of Shaytan's whispers, and every sacrifice offered is a reminder of Allah's mercy in providing a substitute for Ismail. নবী করীম Muhammad (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) performed the rites of মিনা during his Farewell হজ্জ and said: 'Take your rituals from me, for I do not know — perhaps I will not perform হজ্জ after this year of mine' (Sahih Muslim 1297). His meticulous performance of each act at মিনা — the stoning, the sacrifice, the shaving, the order of rites — established the Sunnah that billions of Muslims have followed for fourteen centuries. The Days of Tashreeq spent in মিনা are days of eating, drinking, and remembrance of Allah. নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) said: 'The Days of Tashreeq are days of eating, drinking, and dhikr (remembrance) of Allah' (Sahih Muslim 1141). Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen explained that the combination of physical nourishment and spiritual remembrance during these days teaches the balance that Islam establishes between the body and the soul. The nights in মিনা are opportunities for worship, reflection, and brotherhood, as হাজীগণ from every corner of the world share close quarters in the service of their Creator.
Pilgrims stay in মিনা on several days during হজ্জ. On the 8th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), হাজীগণ enter ইহরাম and travel to মিনা, where they pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr — shortening the four-rak'ah সালাতs to two but praying each at its proper time without combining. They depart for আরাফাত after sunrise on the 9th. After the standing at আরাফাত and the night at মুযদালিফা, হাজীগণ return to মিনা on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-Nahr / Eid al-Adha) to stone Jamrat al-Aqabah (the largest pillar) with seven pebbles, slaughter their sacrifice, shave or trim the hair, and then proceed to মক্কা মুকাররমা for তাওয়াফ al-Ifadah. The Days of Tashreeq (11th, 12th, and optionally 13th of Dhul Hijjah) are spent in মিনা. Each afternoon after zawal (the sun passing its zenith), হাজীগণ stone all three জামারাত in sequence — starting from the smallest (al-Sughra), then the middle (al-Wusta), then the largest (al-Aqabah), throwing seven pebbles at each while saying 'Allahu Akbar' with each throw. After stoning the first and second জামারাত, হাজীগণ should face the Qiblah and make dua. There is no dua after stoning the third (largest) জামারাত. Pilgrims who wish to hasten may leave মিনা on the 12th after stoning, provided they depart before sunset. Those who remain for the 13th must stone all three জামারাত again. Pebbles should be collected from মুযদালিফা or anywhere in the Haram area — they should be slightly larger than a chickpea. The tent city can be disorienting due to the uniform appearance of the tents. Pilgrims should memorize their camp number and location relative to landmarks, keep their group leader's phone number accessible, and carry identification at all times. Temperatures inside tents can still be warm despite air conditioning, so adequate hydration is essential. The জামারাত Bridge operates with one-way pedestrian flow — follow the direction of traffic and never attempt to go against the crowd. Emergency exits are clearly marked on all levels of the bridge.